Nebraska Newspapers

    VOLUME XXVII.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1920.
NUMBER 26.
K '
hi--
ROUGH HOUSE IN
SMITHPOOL HALL
"Red" Hudkins, Former Baseball
l'ltclier Stages UntUe With llil
liard Ball as Ammunition
'"When a chunk of grizzly standston
Struck him in the abdomen,
And he smiled a sickly smile.
And curley up ou the floor,
And the subsequent proceedings
interested him no more."
Those of us who recall Truthful
James, an early western character
made famous by Brete Harte, will
.see in the lines quoted above a rather
Accurate description of certain
events which transpired at the Joe
jSmith pool hall Wednesday evening.
Only, in this case, the ammunition
was not red sandstone, but red bil
liard balls, which are fully as dam
Aging, as the walls of the pool hall
and the bruised arm and side of
John Landis, an employe, will tes
tify. The legal record of the case
to date follows:
' On complaint of Joe Smith, Coun
ty Judge TaBh Thursday morning is
sued a warrant for the arrest of Roy
Hudkins, known better by his soubri
quet of "Red," on two charges, felon
ious assault and intoxication. At a
preliminary hearing held Thursday
afternoon, the case was continued to
next Tuesday at 10 a. m., and Hud
kins placed under a $200 bond to
keep the peace and appear for trial.
The bond was furnished.
There are a number of conflicting
stories out concerning the episode,
and that of Joe Smith, proprietor of
the pool hall in which the melee oc
curred. Is that Hudkins entered his
place of business about 8 p. m.
Wednesday. Mr. Smith declares that
Hudkins was under the influence of
liquor, and that Bhortly after his ar
rival, drew out several rolls of bills
and insisted on playing for money.
He was warned that gambling would
.not be tolerated, and subsided for a
lime. Later, he drew out his money,
vome dice, and kneeling down on
the floor, began .to roll the bones,
lie was again cautioned, and, ac
cording to Smith, efforts were made
to persuade him to leave. He . re
fused to do so, and contfnued to re
nnain in the establishment, despite
the efforts of Mr. Smith and Mr.
Landis to get him to leave and to
'get friends to take him home. Along
about 11:30 p. m., after considerable
trouble with him in various ways,
Mr. Smith ordered him to leave and
threatened to call the police if he
did not. Thereupon an argument
began,, and threats of battle were Is
sued. Hudkins, according to the
story of the proprietor, aimed a blow
at him, which was never delivered,
dne to John Landis, who seized a
Milliard cue and struck "Red" on the
"head with It, flooring him. Hudkins
ifell beneath a billiard table, and re
mained there for several minutes.
When he arose, his hands were full
of red billiard balls, and selecting
Landis as . his target, Hudkins
brough his pitching knowledge Into
play. According to several witnesses,
five balls were thrown. Two of these
struck Landis, one In the left side,
Just below the ribs, and another,
aimed at his head, struck his left
forearm, which he threw up to ward
it off. The marks left by two other
balls are seen on the wall. Having
knocked Landis out, Hudkins then
left by a side door, and came around
to the front of the building, and
later, when Smith came to the door,
lie was seized by the arm, drawn out
side, and attacked. Mr. Smith bears
on his forehead a huge bruise, which
lie says resulted from a kick by his
assailant. He succeeded in eluding
Hudkins, and ran over to the police
- station, where he found Chief Reed.
John Landis' story is very similar
to that told by his employer. He has
been confined to his room since the
fracas, and Is unale to leave his bed.
His arm and side are badly bruised.
He declares that be has always been
friendly with Hudkins, and that he
had personally urged him to leave.
His story that when Hudkins at
tacked Smith, be came up intending
to persuade "Red" to go borne, and
that when he started to talk to him,
Hudkins asked: "Do you want some
of this, too?" When he saw that
list play was certain, he seised a cue
and struck Hudkins, intending only
to make him be decent and leave.
He said that some of the witnesses
ried out to him not to strike "Red"
agin, but that lie tad no intention
of hitting him more than once.
"Landis says that when the fusillade
of billiard balls began, everyone left
the building for safer Quarters, but
that be stayed. No balls were thrown
at anyone save "himself. He believes
that he would hSave been laid out
- Continued on Page 4.)
GREATEST COMPLIMENT
WE EVER RECEIVED
"One advantage about hav
ing The Herald la the house,"
said a sober minded business
man to us the other day, "is
that it doesn't have to be cen
sored before I take It home.
There may be a time and place
'or shady stories, but somehow
other, I prefer not to hav
m around the house when
Iren run across them.
, v don't know that I cm be
c 1 as a prude I hiay have
lifaJ to the wrong kind of a
sto.& ce in a while but 1
find x mighty embarrassing to
have to sidestep when some of
the kids ask me about certain
bits of alleged humor I run
across in some newspapers.
"The Herald seems to have
the right combination, and
your policy of 'humor without
smut' is appreciated by a lot of
readers," he told us, and we
have never had a greater com
pliment. This business man laughed
when he told of reading a para
graph which inferred that The
Heralu didn't print as much
news as some. "That's absurd
and no one knows it better
than tue fellow who wrote it,"
he sali. "Both newspapers are
better since you fellows came
to the city." He called atten
tion to a certain article that
had been copied from us for
two Issues in succession each
time the details changing so as
to make it out of date. "You
ought to print one of those
deadly parallels," he told us.
II. F. BERRY FINED ON
PETIT LARCENY CHARGE
II. F. Berry, brakeman on the
south line of the Burlington, was. a?
sessed a fine of $50 and costs In Jus
tice court by Justice of the Feace
Roberts Thursday morning, follow
ing a plea of guilty to a charge of
stealing an overcoat, valued at 150,
from a rancher Wednesday evening.
The police were.Tnotl fled oy the
train conductor about 8 p. m,
Wednesday evening, and Went to
Berry's quarters and recovered the
coat. He was arrested later In the
evening. The rancher's name is not
known, but he gave his residence as
Scottsbluff. He was on his way to
Kansas City with a carload of thor
obred cattle, and had Just time to
catch his train. The police returned
his coat to him, and decided that it
was not necessary for him to appear
against Berry.
When Justice Roberts called on
the defendant for a plea of guilty or
noj guilty. Berry hesitated for some
time. He scratched his head, begin
ning at a point above the right ear
and gradually working over to the
top of the left ear. Then he worked
his Angers back again. He also
scratched it from the forehead to the
back of the neck and vice versa.
Finally, he remarked: "I guess I'm
guilty. Judge," and it took Mr. Rob
erts exactly four seconds to pro
nounce sentence. Berry said, when
informed that a fine of $50 and costs
amounted to exactly $55 that be be
lieved he could raise that amount,
and was released on his assurances
that he would do so. Within half an
hour he had dug up the money. x
According to Chief Taylor, Berry
said that it was his first offense in
the thieving line. He had seen the
coat hanging up over the seat it
was a new one, and the thought came
to him that he could get away with
It. He declared that the first ex
perience would be the last.
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
IS SLOWLY SUBSIDING
Indications are that the influenza
epidemic will soon be a thing of the
past. Only a few new cases have
been reported the past week, and
onne of the patients is reported in a
serious condition. There is but one
patient left in the city hall hospital,
and he is reported as doing fine.
Henry Emde, the night man at the
city's power plant, is one of the last
cases reported. - He has been under
quarantine for two days. His illness
makes a big difference at the plant.
One case of smallpox was reported
to the health officers this week.
The members of the Woman's dab
wish to express their thanks to H.
A. DuBaque for the benefit program
given at the Imperial Theatre Tues
day evening. 26
GETTING READY
FOR ROAD WORK
Graders Ordered by Commissioners
From State Have Arrived
Other Supplies on Hand.
Box Butte county commissioners
have been buying supplies of one
sort and another in preparation for
road work to begin in the spring.
Last month they ordered a caterpil
lar tractor and two road graders
from the Btate highway department.
This material was surplus army sup
plies and intended primarily for use
on state aid highways, but Box Butte
county has only forty miles of these
and that means that other highways
will get a good deal of benefit.
The two graders arrived last week
and are now awaiting to be erected.
They are of huge size, with twelve-
foot blade, and will be able to move
ground at a rapid rate. The com
missioners have also ordered supplies
for other graders now on hand, and
In addition have a good supply of
steel culverts now on hand.
C. L. Hashman, chairman of the
board, Is in the city today after a
long drive. He says that where the
roads are broke, they are In fine con
dition. The snow lies level all over
the county and when It thaws down
will be of Inestimable value. " Mr.
Hashman came to the city to meet a
representative of the Aultman-Taylor
company, who will be taken to the
county poor farm this afternoon to
repair an engine.
T. L. MISKIMAN IS
NEW DEPUTY SHERIFF
T. L. Misktman of Alliance, whose
residence is in Duncan's addition, has
agreed to accept the position of
deputy sheriff made vacant by the
resignation of Oscar W. Reed, who
has returned to the city's police
force at an Increased salary?" The
job Is in the nature of a trial trip
with Mr. Mlskiman, who may de
cide that he wnats to do something
else. He Is the fourth man who has
taken that ' position under Sheriff
Miller and in the other three cases.
the man in question stepped out into
a Job that brought In more kale.''
The size of the new deputy Is
something to strike terror to the
hearts of evil doers. He is stalwart
of frame, husky of uild and his two
hundred and thirty-odd pounds are
distributed where they ought to be.
Mr. Mlskiman has not filed a bond
as yet, but this will be done immedi
ately, and he will enter upon the
duties of his new position without
delay.
ENTERTAINMENT AT
THE CENTRAL SCHOOL
The pupils of the Central school
gave an entertainment last evening,
the object being to secure funds to
finish payment on the new piano.
Numbers were given by the primary
and first grade, the fourth and fifth
tirades, the sixth and seventh grades.
The eighth grade conducted a tea
room. No admission fee was charged,
but voluntary contributions were ac
cepted, and the entertainment real
ized around $50.
Your LAST Chance
After March 1, The Alliance Herald will cost you either $2.60
or $3.00 per year. If you live within a radius of 150. miles of
Alliance, you will pay the lower rate, but outside of that, due to
increased postage and mailing charges, you'll have to come across
with 50 cents additional.
The Herald prints more real news than any other paper of its
class In the state. Live news of Alliance, printed while it's still
news, written in a newsy way. All the news that's fit to print and
nothing that isn't
Until March 1, subscriptions will be received at the old rate.
Regular subscribers may pay for not to exceed one year in advance
at $2.00 per year. Use the coupon before yon forget It.
SPECIAL 92.00 OFFER
The Herald,
Alliance, Neb.
Enclosed find $2.00 for which credit me with one rear's addi
tional subscription to The Alliance Herald. ,
Name -,, '
Postofflce
R. F. D. or Box No..
Mark with an X (New.
COMMUNITY CLUB
ANNUALJIEETING
Governor MtKelvie In Alliance Next
: Monday Evening as Irlnc:pal
Nteakrr at Banquet
Preparations are smoothly under
way for the annual membership
meeting of the Alliance Community
club. The time Is Monday evening at
7 o'clock, and the place Is the auto
mobile storeroom of the A. H. Jones
company, Just to the west of the
stairway In Masonic Temple.
Cash sales reported at the office
of' the community club Thursday
night hy the committeemen in charge
of ticket sales aggregated more than
100 admittances, and there will, of
course, be others to be added to this
total before the crowd In attendance
Monday evening seats itself around
the tables and begins the annihila
tion of the tempting edibles.
The banquet will be served by the
ladies' guild of the Christian church
and The Herald learns by grapevine
telegraph that In return for the $1.
60 which eac hbanquet surrenders
for the tiny piece of pasteboard ad
mitting him. he Is to be served hon
est-to-goodness grub worth all of
that and more. There is going to be
an imposing variety of toothsome
things, daintily prepared, and, what
is still more comforting to reflect,
there will be a gracious plenty for
all and sundry.
The banquet itself, the first inci
dent on the program, will begin at 7
o'clock sharp. At its conclusion
there will be held the election of di
rectors for the year 1920-21. The
terms of three directors expire at
this time J. S. Rheln, L. H. High
land and A. T. Lunn. In addition
some one will be named to succeed
Glen Miller. Mr. Miller is filling an
unexpired term caused by the resig
nation of Ben J. Sallows as president
and a director.
' On f n n o TKii ITArofrt la q HI a i n
. py fal T . w v. . u 1 V v
learn from street discussion, these
fcur gentlemen will be unanimously
selected as their own successors.
They have worked hard and faithful
ly in the interest of the club, and
there seems to be a universal senti
ment that the club's best Interests
will be served by askin aeh of them
-
to rc-Hiftla. Cn the hoard for another
yeafV
Following the selection of direc
tors there will be up for discussion
two matters which the membership
will be asked to decide. One of these
is the advisability of considering a
permanent home for the organiza
tion. The other si a change of name
from the Community club to the
Chamber of Commerce. The Herald
understands that the directors an
the club secretary are anxious to see
this latter suggestion approved by
the members. The matter of a per
manent home is, of course, even
more important.
The secretary will not make a ver
bal report of the year's work. This
has already been made to every
member in the form of a printed
resume, and he will not consume un
necessary time by rehashing his
report.
The principal event of the evening,
aside from the business procedure,
will be the speech of Governor R. S.
McKelvle, the club's guest of honor.
Btata
.) or (Renewal.
THE WEATHER
For Alliance and vicinity: Tartly
cloudy east, unsettled; probably
light snow west portion tonight and
Saturday colder Saturday and north
west portion tonight.
There are many in Alliance who have
not had the opportunity of hearing
I lie state's chief executive. He has
many personal acquaintances here,
and his presence will no doubt prove
a big factor In the attendance.
In the wake of the governor's
speech there will be three or four
short talks, limited to five minutes
each, by members of the club, and
(hese will conclude the evening's
program.
President Glen Miller will preside
at the gathering and will Introduce
the governor. The latter will be the
guest of Earl D. Mallery while In
Alliance.
There are some members of the
Community club who may have been
unintentionally overlooked by the
committee charged with the sale of
tickets. In such instances tickets
may be had by calling at the club's
headquarters underneath the Alli
ance National bank.
DESERT GOLD" COMES
TO IMPERIAL SUNDAY
Znne Gray's powerful novel, "Des
ert Gold," is one of the film attrac
Hons for the Imperial next Sunday,
and this is one picturlzation that sat
isfies the author, so it must be as
ood as a film can be. Authors are
notoriously cranky, and from the
way some of these screensters take
liberties with the manuscript, you
can't blame them. The eighth epl
sode of "The Invisible Hand," and a
comedy. "Rips and Stitches," com
pletes the bill.
There is a treat in store for the
lovers of that old southern melody In
the appearance of the Barnes Merry
Minstrels for a one night engage
ment.
Black-face comedians, singers and
dancers will entertain with the old
and new songs and dances of the
sunny south. Then there is that
Dixie jasi band that plays the Jazzi
est Jazz that was ever Jazzed by a
jaztband. from that jazzland. There
ftra no dull moments and the comed
ians are a veritable incubator of
laughs.
-1
!
TO FORM SCOTTISH
RITE WOMAN'S CLUB
Preparations are being made for
the formation of a Scottish Rite
Woman's club following a banquet
to be given at the Masonic temple on
March 5. Mothers, sisters and daugh
ters of Scottish Rite Masons from
the fourteenth to the thirty-second
degree will be eligible to member
ship. W. R. Harper Is chairman in
Charge. He has announced that there
will be no initiation fee.
WHO DROVE CITY'S CAR
IS ANOTHER MYSTERY
Another mystery has developed at
the city hall. Who was driving the
city's truck when It backed into the
Powell auto some weeks ago. Mr.
I'owell has put in a claim to the
city for damages, and while the auto
mobile was damaged, no once can
be found who knows anything about
the accident. If one of the city's
employes was at the steering wheel,
he is keeping dark about It. Mr.
Powell has been to Bee Mayor
Rodgers about it several times, but
the mayor Isn't particularly worried.
He says that it's up to Powell to say
who, when and how.
SPRING CEREMONIAL
OF SCOTTISH RITE
March 18 and 19 will b ered letter
days for the Scottish Rite Masons,
for on these days will be held the
spring ceremonial, during which all
degrees up to and including the
eighteenth will be conferred. A large
class will take the work and visitors
from out of the city are expected.
Recently letters temporary have been
issued for the Rose Croix degree, and
these will be given in full form dur
ing the ceremonial.
ALLIANCE HOME BUILDERS
CHOOSE SUPERINTENDENT
A. S. Mote has been chosen as su
perintendent of construction for the
Alliance home builders' association,
which will begin the erection of fif
teen houses within the next few
days.
NO COAL SUPPLY
AT CITTS PLANT
Coal Mlnens Fall to Deliver Using
Fuel Borrowed From llur
llngton Railroad
Beginning Thursday afternoon.
the boilers at the city power plant
were benlg fired with engine coal
borrowed from the Burlington rail
road. The city ha no less than four
cars on the way, but they have been
on the way for weeks, and are no
nearer delivery than they were a
month ago, so far a can be discov
ered. There is no way of telling
how long the shortage may continue.
City Manager Smith says, but he de
clares that the plant will be kept
running, "even if it necessary to
burn wood."
The city buys Us coal of the Acme
Coal company, at Acme, Wyo., and
all during the fuel shortage the
company kept Alliance In mind. Re
cently the company was absorbed la
a merger and is now a part of the
Sheridan-Wyoming Coal company.
Ever since the change, delivery has
been on the blink, the city manager
says, the Sheridan company not giv
ing anywhere near the service the
city received from their predecessors.
The new company, when Acme coal
is ordered, doesn't always send
Acme. They send Wyoming coal,
but, according to the city manager,
there Is a whole lot of difference in
coal from that state, and his ex
perience is that Acme gives the best
results. "A man can shovel away
more than his salary with some of
the coal we have been getting," Mr.
Smith said.
The first Intimation that there had
been a change in ownership came on
January 24, In a letter acknowledge
ing receipt of orders to Increase
shipments of coal to one cap of oner
Inch slack every three days. The
letter stated that, beginning January
1, the Sheridan-Wyoming company
would Invoice all coal. This Increase
to ten can a month was ordered Jan'
uary 19, and apparently was re
ceived, but the coal failed to arrive
as scheduled. Straggling deliveries
were made, but not in increased
quantities, and less than before. -4
February 23, Mr. Smith sent the
following wire:
"Ship Immediate!
J four ears', tltfceP 6ne-fneh Or "to a-
one-half inch screenings for city
light plant. Keep euf regular ship
ments coming. We are now" out of
coal."
Then, in a letter dated the same
day, the company acknowledged the
order and assured the city that it
would be sent out within twenty-four
hours. Incidentally, they suggest
that orders be placed a little further
In advance. Mr. Smith declares that
thirty-odd days ought to bo sufficient
notice. A significant statement in
the company's letter is that the
mines are only running half-time.
The letter, In part, follows:
"We note you advise you are out
of coal and we do not see why yon 1
should be, because we have been giv
ing you regular shipments. We re
alize the railroad company have been
rather slow with deliveries, tele
grams coming in daily from the
potash field advising of non-delivery
of coal. We have been after them
vigorously to get coal hurried out
from this end, but cannot say our
efforts have met with entire success,
although we do believe cars have
been given average movement.
We might suggest that it will be
well for you to place your orders a
little farther in advance of your
needs of coal. The mines are not
working every day and if your order
should come in on a day when they
were idle and we had no coal on
track unbilled we could not ship on
that day, but would be obliged to
wait until the mines run again.
Right now they are running not to
exceed three days a week, and occa
sionally they are Idle two days in
succession. Thus you see It would
convenience us If we were given a
little more time in which to ship."
Ora Darnell, former manager of
the Acme mine, was In Alliance
Tuesday of this week between trains
and made a friendly call on the city
manager. He expressed himself as
glad he was able to take care of Al
liance during the coal strike, and
was considerably concerned at the
lack of service now. He intimated
that It might have been expected.
The city has no contract for coal,
buying in the open market. The
Acme people back in last December
offered to contract for a year's sup
ply, but the council decided that this
course was unwise.
Tonr attention is directed to the
coupon. Remember this is your last
chance to get this grade of reading
matter at the old price, $2o00 a year-